Attacks on families of opponents a cowardly act: Yasin Malik

Srinagar, May 29: “Attacks on the families of opponents can only be termed as a cowardly act. What happened to the sermons by DG police of not attacking families of one another,” said the chairman of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik while condemning the “revengeful attacks” by Indian army and forces at Shopian on Monday.

Terming these attacks as acts of “state terrorism”, Malik in a statement issued to GNS said that attacking the house of a youth in armed struggle Zeenal ul Islam, destroying fruit gardens and vandalizing residential houses and people’s properties at Turkwangum, Sugan and other villages Shopian are acts that can only be termed as cowardly.

He said that attacking families of rivals and innocent people of villages and creating havoc in the whole area has exposed the high claims of morality, ethics and principles often propagated by Indian leaders and their Kashmiri “stooges”.

JKLF chairman said that some time back, police chief SP Vaid had appealed for restraint in case of families and delivered sermons on not involving families into war between two parties. “Today Army and police attacked the family of Zeenat ul Islam and other common people, attacked men, women children of the area, destroyed their residential properties and fruit gardens, vandalized villages and beat people without the discrimination of age and gender. This has exposed these tall claims and sermons of high morals and ethics,” he said.

While condemning the “brutal” killing of a civilian Bilal Ganaie of Kakpora Pulwama, JKLF chairman said, “Eyewitnesses have confirmed that forces opened fire on this innocent person and killed him in cold blood.”

Expressing solidarity with the bereaved family of Bilal, Malik prayed for their patience. A JKLF delegation comprising district president Javed Ahmad Butt, Tariq Ahmad and others visited the residence of the bereaved family and also participated in the funeral prayers of Bilal.

Meanwhile, Malik has expressed his heartfelt grief and sorrow over the demise of one of the founder members of JKLF Khawaja Ghulam Ahmad Butt, who breathed his last today at Dhoak Kashmiriyan Rawalpandi, Pakistan.

“The deceased who was originally from Rajouri Kadal Srinagar had migrated to Azad Kashmir in 1950. He was closely associated with the father of Kashmiri nation Muhammad Maqbool Butt and founder of JKLF late Aman Ullah Khan and one of the key figures who played his active role in the formation of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF),” Malik said adding that in 2007, he visited Srinagar also and participated in famous long journey Safer-i-Azadi.

Paying rich tributes to deceased, JKLF chairman said that today JKLF family has lost one of its prolific members and affectionate elder. “We pray for his heavenly abode,” he said.